Apparatus for drying leather and other sheet material



June 17, 1952 JENNINGS 2,601,150

APPARATUS FOR DRYING LEATHER AND OTHER SHEET MATERIAL Filed Oct. 18, 1950 2 SHEETS-5P5?! l 7 QL I I G ;u: 24 i :u:

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APPARATUS FOR DRYING LEATHER AND OTHER SHEET MATERIAL Filed OCt. 18, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 I I fly;

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Patented June 17, 1952 APPARATUS FOR DRYING LEATHER AND =-OTHER SHEET MATERIAL George H. Jennings, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Howes Leather Company, Inc., Boston, Mass, a corporation of'Delaware Application October 18, 1950; Serial No. 190,698

6 Claims. (01. 34-58) This invention relates to apparatus for drying sheet material in smooth, 'unwrin'kled condition and more particularly to stretching and. drying heavy sheet material such as sole leather.

Heretof'ore it has been proposed to dry pieces of leather by rotating them edgewise at velocities high enough to stretch them into smooth condition by centrifugal force. However-such attempts have not been successful for various reasons. The prior machines have either been too complicated or they'damaged the leather or both.

Objects of the present invention are to provide apparatus which is simple and economical in construction, which will stretch and dry' double bends and double shoulders of leather uniformly and quickly throughout their entire areas without damaging the leather and generally to improve the art of stretching and drying pieces of sheet material such as sole leather.

"According to .the present invention the apparatus comprises a rotatable shaft, .a clamp for holding a piece of sheet material on the shaft between 'two faces which are approximately perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, and a ring mounted concentrically .on the shaft adjacent to the clamp but offset therefrom lengthwise of the shaft; the diameter of the ring being substantially greater than that of the clampand less than that of the aforesaid pieces sothat a piece of material clamped between the faces maybe draped over the ring and then, when the shaft is rotated, caused to extend out by centrifugal force in a plane perpendicular to. the shaft without danger of the material becoming entangled. Preferably the ring is interconnected to the shaft by means of fan blades which are inclineci'in the direction to create a current of air toward the rotating piece of material. In the preferred embodiment another ring, preferably in the form of a perforated disc with rounded edge, is mounted concentrically on the shaft on theother side of the clamp to catch the material when it collapses as the shaft stops rotating. To permit the pieces to be mounted at or near their centers, the clamps are preferably located at opposite ends of'the shaft with the rotating means therebetween. Preferably the shaft is disposed horizontally on 'aportable frame with its ends projecting from opposite sides of the frame.

For the purpose ofillustration a typical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a topplan view without any leather inplace;

Fig. 2 is an end view;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one end of p the apparatus showing in broken lines the position the leather occupies when draped over the supporting ring before the shaft starts rotating and also the extended position it occupies while the shaft .is rotating;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 5-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. '5 is a section on line 5--5 of Fig. 3; and Fig. ,6 is a plan view of a double bond piece of leather showing how it is perforated to fit the clamps.

"The particular embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration comprises a portable frame mounted on wheels I. The base of the frame comprises longitudinal channel members 2 and transverse members 3. Extending upwardly from these base members 2 are inclined upright channel members 4 which are joined together at the top by a short longitudinal member 6. Intermediate their upper and lower ends the inclined members are interconnected by channel members I. Mounted on each of the members I is a longitudinal channel 8 which is interconnected with the top member 5 by inclined braces 9 and with the ends of cross members 1 by oblique braces l0. Mounted on the other ends of the members 8 are cross members i l which are tied to the inclined braces by means of plates 12, all of these parts being secured together by welding. Bolted to the members 8 directly over the members 1 are bearings It for shaft M which extends through openings IS in the cross members ll. East to the shaft I4 at its center is a pulley I! which is driven through belt l8 by motor 19 mounted on the cross members 3 by means of a support 2| of well-known construction. The ends of the shaft M are supported in bearings 22 mounted on the outer faces of members H. g

The tip ends 23 of the shaft are reduced in diameter and mounted on each of these reduced ends are two clamps 24 and 26, a cupped disc 21' and a nut 23 to hold the parts onthe shaft, the clamp 24 being fast-to the shaft. The faces 3 of the two clamps have knurled portions 29 and 30 to grip the leather tightly and the clamp 24 has two projecting pins 3| fitting into openings 32 in the clamp 26 to prevent rotation of the clamp 26 relative to the clamp 24. The clamp 26 and the disc 21 have central openings to receive the reduced end 23 of the shaft l3. As shown in the drawings the disc 21 is preferably perforated to facilitate drying of the central por tion of the hide. Fast to the shaft I4 immediately outside of each bearing 22 is a hub 36 carrying a ring 31 through the medium of spokes 38 in the form of fan blades.

In drying a double bend piece of leather such as shown in Fig. 6, openings 33 and 34 are provided, preferably along the center line of the double bend to receive the pins 3! and shaft 23. To apply a double bend to the shaft the clamp 26, disc 21 and nut 28 are removed, the hide is applied over the shaft 23 and pins 3| and then draped over the ring 31 in the position indicated at L in Fig. 3. Then the clamp 26, disc 21 and nut 28 are applied, the nut 28 being tightened sufficiently to hold the parts in place. Then the motor is started and as the shaft accelerates the hide stretches out from said position to the position indicated at L in Fig. 3. The motor is driven in the direction to cause the fan blades to create a current of air against the central portion of the adjacent hide. Inasmuch as the central portion of the hide has a lower linear velocity through the air, it would tend to dry more slowly than the periphery except for the action of the fan blades which cause the hide to dry uniformly throughout its entire area. After the hide is stretched and dried the motor is stopped and the hide again collapses. If it collapses inwardly it falls over the ring 31 and if it collapses outwardly it falls over the disc 21.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. For drying pieces of sheet material, apparatus comprising a shaft, means for rotatably supporting the shaft, a clamp for holding a piece of sheet material on the shaft between two faces which are approximately perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, and a ring mounted concentrically on the shaft adjacent to the clamp, the diameter of the ring being substantially greater than that of the clamp but less than that of said pieces so that a piece of material clamped between'said faces may be draped over said ring and then, when the shaft is rotated, caused to extend out by centrifugal force in a plane perpendicular to the shaft without danger of the material becoming entangled, said ring being offset from said plane lengthwise of the shaft so that there is a substantial space between the sheet material and the ring when the sheet is extended by centrifugal force.

2. For drying pieces of sheet material, apparatus comprising a shaft, means for rotatably supporting the shaft, a clamp for holding a piece of sheet material on the shaft between two faces which are approximately perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, a ring concentric with the shaft adjacent to the clamp but offset therefrom lengthwise of the shaft, the diameter of the ring being substantially greater than that of the clamp but less than that of said pieces so that a piece of material clamped between said faces may be draped over said ring and then, when the shaft is rotated, caused to extend out by centrifugal force in a plane perpendicular to the shaft, and fan blades interconnecting the ring and shaft, the blades being inclined in the direction to create a current of air toward the rotating piece of material.

3. For drying pieces of sheet material, apparatus comprising a shaft, means for rotatably supporting the shaft, a clamp for holding a piece of sheet material on the shaft between two faces which are approximately perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, a ring mounted concentrically on the shaft on one side of the clamp, the diameter of the ring being substantially greater than that of the clamp but less than that of said pieces so that a piece of material clamped between said faces may be draped over said ring and then, when the shaft is rotated, caused to extend out by centrifugal force in a plane perpendicular to the shaft without danger of the material becoming entangled, and another ring mounted concentrically on the shaft on the other side of the clamp to catch the material when it collapses as the shaft stops rotating.

4. Fordrying pieces of sheet material, apparatus comprising a shaft, means for rotatably supporting the shaft, a clamp for holding a piece of sheet material on the shaft between two faces which are approximately perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, a ring concentric with the shaft adjacent to the clamp but offset therefrom lengthwise of the shaft, the diameter of the ring being substantially greater than that of the clamp but less than that of said pieces so that a piece of material clamped between said faces may be draped over said ring and then, when the shaft is rotated, caused to extend out by centrifugal force in a plane perpendicular to the shaft, fan blades interconnecting the ring and shaft, the blades being inclined in the direction to create a current of air toward the rotating piece of material, and another ring mounted concentrically on the shaft on the other side of the clamp to catch the material when it collapses as the shaft stops rotating.

5. For drying pieces of sheet material, apparatus comprising a shaft, means intermediate its ends for rotating the shaft, a clamp on each end of the shaft for holding a piece of sheet material between two faces which are approximately perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, a ring concentric with the shaft adjacent to each clamp but offset therefrom lengthwise of the shaft, the diameter of the rings being substantially greater than that, of the clamps but less than that of said pieces so that pieces of material clamped between said faces may be draped over said rings and then, when the shaft is rotated, caused to extend out by centrifugal force in planes perpendicular to the shaft, and fan blades interconnecting each ring and shaft, the blades being inclined in the direction to create currents of air toward the rotating piece of material.

6. For drying pieces of sheet material, apparatus comprising a horizontal shaft, means for rotatably supporting the shaft, a clamp on each end of the shaft for holding a piece of sheet material between two faces which are approximately perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, a ring concentric with the shaft adjacent to each clamp but offset therefrom lengthwise of the shaft, the diameter of the rings being sub- 6 stantially greater than that of the clamps but REFERENCES CITED less than that of said pieces so that a piece of The following references are of record in the material clamped between said faces may be file of this patent:

draped over said rings and then, when the shaft is rotated, caused to extend out by centrifugal 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS force in planes perpendicular to the shaft, and Number Name Date fan blades interconnecting each ring and shaft, 37,509 Huse Jan. 27, 1863 the blades being inclined in the direction to 1,751,023 Aune Mar. 18, 1930 create currents of air toward the rotating pieces 1,879,942 Meyer Sept. 27, 1932 of material. 10 2,425,546 Lindsey Aug. 12, 1947 GEORGE H. JENNINGS. 2,498,560 Leeth Feb. 21, 1950 

